2026 Toyota Highlander MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2026 Toyota Highlander gets up to 24 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 35 mpg as a hybrid, across 3 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2026 Toyota Highlander · 3 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

24MPG combined

21 city 28 highway

$2,600 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

35MPG combined

35 city 35 highway

$1,800 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score6/10

2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT

Best version saves $2,000 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,800 to $2,600 a year. Compared with 2025, the best gas version is down 1 mpg.

Too new to rank against other Highlander years

The 2026 Highlander has not had three full years of owner complaints yet.

No Highlander year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2016 and 2017. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Highlander year ranked The 2026 Highlander's recalls and problems

Every 2026 Highlander version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid AWD	35 mpg	35 / 35	$1,800
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · LTD PLAT EPA listing: Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT	35 mpg	35 / 34	$1,800
Gas
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: Highlander AWD	24 mpg	21 / 28	$2,600

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$1,714	$143	$8,571
2.5L 4-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · LTD PLAT	$1,714	$143	$8,571
2.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,500	$208	$12,500

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Toyota Highlander MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 22 to 25 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2023. Hybrid: 26 to 36 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2026: gas 24 mpg · hybrid 35 mpg

Show as a table

Toyota Highlander best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	22	26
2011	22	28
2012	22	28
2013	22	28
2014	22	28
2015	22	28
2016	22	28
2017	23	29
2018	23	29
2019	23	29
2020	24	36
2021	24	36
2022	24	36
2023	25	36
2024	25	36
2025	25	35
2026	24	35

Every Highlander year's ratings in one table

How the 2026 Highlander compares

2026 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2026 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sorento Best: hybrid	37 mpg	26 mpg	$1,700
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	36 mpg	25 mpg	$2,150
Toyota Grand Highlander Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Toyota Highlander This page Best: hybrid	35 mpg	24 mpg	$1,800
Hyundai Palisade Best: hybrid	34 mpg	21 mpg	$1,850
Chevrolet Blazer Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Mazda CX-90 Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Ford Explorer Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Murano Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Volkswagen Atlas Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Subaru Ascent Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
GMC Acadia Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Buick Enclave Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Honda Passport Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,100

2026 Highlander recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints for the 2026 Highlander.

NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2026 Highlander recalls and problems

Questions

How much fuel does the 2026 Highlander hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,800 a year to fuel against $2,600 for the gas model: $800 a year, or $4,000 over five years.

Does the 2026 Toyota Highlander need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2026 Toyota Highlander version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2026 Highlander's MPG compare with the 2025?

For 2026, the best gas version is rated 24 mpg, down 1 from 25 and the best hybrid version is rated 35 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.